Australia must commit to deep emissions cuts in the Copenhagen Accord

Posted by Phil Evans on February 11, 2014

As we know, the Copenhagen talks ended without agreement to set binding emissions reduction targets. The accord will list the voluntary emissions reduction targets by developed and developing countries, in Annexes to the main document. Countries are asked to provide their target by February 1, 2010.

Please join our action alert, and demand that Australia commit to deep emissions reductions targets in its February commitment.

As we know, the Copenhagen talks ended without agreement to set binding emissions reduction targets.

Instead, all that could be managed was a voluntary agreement, which was 'noted' rather than formally adopted. If it is eventually enacted, it will fail to: Â·Â Â Â ensure deep enough emissions cuts to stop global temperatures exceeding 2 degrees Celsius, Â·Â Â Â offer enough money to help developing countries tackle dangerous climate change. The very existence of the Copenhagen accord will also make a strong, fair, and legally-binding agreement more difficult to achieve in the coming years.

Australia was one of the countries that lobbied for the Accord. The accord will list the voluntary emissions reduction targets by developed and developing countries, in Annexes to the main document. Countries are asked to provide their target by February 1, 2010.

This is why we have issued this alert.

We still have time to pressure the Australian government to atone for its destructive behaviour at Copenhagen, by demanding it commit to deep emissions reductions targets in its February commitment.

Please:

Â Â Â send the letter below to the PM and Climate Change minister â€“ as soon as you can,

Â Â Â please cc the leader of the Coalition, Tony Abbott, so we can make it clear that most Australians do not support his views on climate change,

Â Â Â circulate this alert to your friends and work mates and ask them to do the same,

Â Â Â call the PM's office, asking him to adopt these targets,

Â Â Â please write to your local papers on this issue: you can check the list of them at the end of this alert,

Â Â Â tell us how you go and what feedback you get â€“ either through cc'ing messages to us at foe@foe.org.au or via our facebook page.

There is a detailed analysis of the Copenhagen talks and further information on how to take action available here.

It is imperative that we don't give up hope. The world needs a global agreement to reign in greenhouse pollution, while providing funding for all nations to develop and adapt. We cannot let our government off the hook!

CALL THE PM Actually calling the PM's office will have a much greater impact than sending an email.

To contact Kevin Rudd's office, call: 02 6277 7700

NB: as of wed Dec 23rd, the PM's office is closed until Jan 4.

You can use the letter below to outline your concerns. When you call, just explain that you want to leave a message for the PM, someone will take a note.

You can also email these leaders of island nations to give them your support and let them know you are calling on Australia to do the right thing: Â·Â Â Â Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Mr Apisai Ielemia, who can be reached via his personal secretary:Â ksaloa@gov.tv Â·Â Â Â Prime Minister of Grenada, Mr Tillman Thomas: pmoffice@gov.gd Â·Â Â Â President Nasheed of the Maldives: info@presidencymaldives.gov.mv Â·Â Â Â President Anote Tong of Kiribati: eni@parliament.gov.ki Â·Â Â Â Premier of Niue, Toke Talagi, can be reached via Secretaty to Government, Richarde Hipa at sog.hipa@mail.gov.nu

Best wishes for the summer and 2010, and thanks for taking action,

Friends of the Earth

THE LETTER Please cut and paste this message (adding whatever detail you want) into the following forms:

I write to express my extreme disappointment at the outcome of the Copenhagen climate negotiations and Australia's role in the poor outcome that was achieved.

There was a resounding message from our Pacific neighbours and other Island nations that we need to keep overall global warming to a maximum of 1.5oC. The very survival of the Pacific Island nations depends on this.

Australia's actions at Copenhagen greatly undermined this voice â€“ and hence any agreement to act in a way that is commensurate with what climate science tells us is necessary to avoid dangerous climate change.

It's time that rich countries, including Australia, started pushing for a strong and fair agreement. I urge you â€“ in the strongest terms possible â€“ to ensure that our emissions reductions pledge we need to make under the Copenhagen Accord early in 2010 are sufficient to avoid dangerous climate change: Â·Â Â Â Australia must cut emissions by at least 45% by 2020 from 1990 levels. I believe this is possible with the technology we already have, and will yield a vast number of new jobs, Â·Â Â Â Australia must commit to a 350 CO2-e ppm target to stabilise the atmosphere. AlmostÂ half of the world's nations, including many African and other less-developed countries â€“ support the Alliance of Small Island States' call for a plan to hold the world to 1.5 degree of warming, Â·Â Â Â We must put new money on the table for developing countries for adaptation and to allow support for a transition to a low carbon economy, which is not contingent on developing nations signing up to the accord, Â·Â Â Â We must negotiate with governments from developing countries on an equal basis.

Most rich countries failed to show leadership at Copenhagen, despite having caused most of the climate change we are currently experiencing, through their emissions over the past 100 years. This is our chance to redeem ourselves.

It is not too late. I will not give up demanding a fair and strong climate agreement that protects ourÂ planet and protects the lives of millions of the poorest people.

The accord will just list voluntary targets by developed and developing countries, in Annexes to the accord. Countries are asked to provide their target by February 1.Â I hope that Australia will commit to meaningful targets. Based on current assessments of country promises, the 2020 targets will head us towards 3.5-4 degrees warming, which would be a catastrophe. I do not accept that Australia should 'do no more' than other countries â€“ as the world's worst per capita greenhouse emitter, we must show leadership.

I want you to unilaterally commit Australia to cut its emissions by at least 45 per cent by 2020 on 1990 levels.

In short, I demand that you begin showing real leadership. Nothing less will be acceptable to me